pain in the healed wound on his right hand. This broug

se in a temple. While burning incense, someone pushed him from behind, causing him to grab a tortoise shell offered

stick. However, the abbot refused, offering only two talismans to ward off evil spirits. Jim Chris's mother took the turt

earth's spiritual energy cycle. Only licensed alchemy and refining companies are allowed to make fires. Jim Chris

e tortoise shell, a silver light f

rom his room. Time seemed to pass, and Jim Chris's consciousness slowly returned. He found himse

urrounded by a thin, semi-ellipsoidal light cover that repelled fish and crabs. Jim Chris

nding in seemed to be the front hall, with four pedestals in the corners, each with a formation flag.

econd-level, mid-grade formation designed to gather spirits, avoid water, conceal, and protect. Jim Chris carefully tes

ap, Jim Chris waited another half hour before

de hall was a training room, but he wasn't sure if anyone was inside. To be cautious, Jim Chris took out a "wooden armor talism

in and rolled it towards the door of the middle side hall. A faint blue electric light flashed, vaporizing

y got the better of him. He decided to test the other two side halls, rolling a coin towards each door. The left side hall triggered a si

other coin to test for residual forbidden power. Once he confirmed it was safe, he

racticed the basic Five Elements Internal Skills taught in school, which wasn't enough to overcome the restriction. He regret

for Jim Chris's current level. He felt that if he had the talisman, he could break the restrict

meditated, he suddenly jumped up, took out his phone, and opened the software to test the concentration of spiritual

worried that if they discovered him, they would not be pleased. He tried to recall how he ended up the

at felt like an eternity, and he knew that his parents would be worried sick about him. As the time passed, he knew that his parents would

from the Wellesley sect could locate his phone and rescue him from the water palace. He quic

d been so careful, so meticulous, in his spiritual practices, and yet, somehow, he had still managed to get trapped. He

ed on the other end of the line. "110 emergency services,

m Jim Chris, and I'm trapped in the water palace. I was practicing my spiritual exercises, and I think I must have t

s could sense a hint of surprise and curiosity. "I see," the voice said. "Can you t

other end of the line couldn't see him. "Yes, that's correc

d, "Okay, Jim Chris, I'm going to send someone to rescue you. Can you st

wash over him. "Yes, of course. I'll stay on the l

de and relief. He was going to be okay, and he was going to get out of this strange and mysteri